News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
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Before moving to Sisters in 2012, Marion Shepard worked 60 hours a week as a computer software engineer for 20 years; she had no real balance in her life. Then in 1999 her father and sister decided to send a grey Arabian gelding her way in Carlsbad, California. "Receiving that horse was a life-changing event for me," Shepard recalled. She named the 14-year-old Arabian "ShahSeyn." Since Shepard owned her own computer software business, she adjusted her schedule to learn... Full story
The sight of your dog whirling around in a circle trying to catch his tail in his mouth might be one of the funniest things you've ever seen. Could it be that your pooch just noticed he has a tail? Though dogs are our best friends, they can sometimes be, well, a bit weird. You'd think after a lasting partnership of 20,000 years or so, that we'd have them figured out by now. Quirky dog behaviors may seem unusual to us, but for the most part are actually completely normal for... Full story
The spirit of the Old West was alive and well for the second annual Wild West Casino Night fundraiser at Brand 33 Restaurant on Saturday evening. The event supports scholarship programs for Sisters Park & Recreation District. Kris Harwell, financial and project coordinator, handed out "funny money," playing cards, and drink tickets as folks moseyed on in dressed in Western attire. "This year we added the Wild West Charity Poker Tournament," Harwell said. "It's a $25 buy-in... Full story
I'm not sure where the line is between clutter and hoarding. I'm reminded of an old George Carlin monologue about "stuff." We start out in life with nothing, but then we start accumulating stuff and when we get new stuff, we don't throw out the old stuff. We put it up on shelves or in a closet until it gets filled up then we start filling up the rooms, the attic, the garage. Next we need a storage space to hold our old stuff. The only reason we buy a house is for a place to put our stuff while we go out and get more stuff. A... Full story
Dressed in white tunics depicting Greek gods, eight senior boys hit the stage in the Sisters High School auditorium with their humorous antics and outrageous costumes in this year's annual Mr. SHS pageant with the theme "Going Greek" on Sunday evening. It was clear that the 2014 Mr. SHS participants were ready to put on a show. Each Greek god, aka student, displayed a special talent that he had a passion for in the "talent" part of the program. The Greek gods were escorted by... Full story
Big wet snowflakes continued to fall on Saturday, March 1, when Erin Borla, executive director of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce, got the ball rolling as master of ceremonies for the groundbreaking celebration in front of Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill and Saloon. Mayor Brad Boyd thanked folks of the Sisters community for supporting the kick-off of Sisters' Cascade Avenue Street Improvement Project. "Our business community has been integral at planning the implantation of... Full story
You and your closest friend rarely argue, except over one subject: Pet smarts. She knows a lot about cats and says they're smarter than dogs, but you as a pet parent with two dogs think she's wrong. Who's right? Scientists have recently designed certain techniques and measures that may give us the definitive answer. One of the measurements that animal psychologists and biologists have used to assess intelligence is called the Encephalization Quotient, and another is... Full story
For its 16th year, the Sisters Act Talent Show provided an entertaining evening with a full array of song, dance, comedic skits, music, recitations - and a couple of surprises to boot. The show was sponsored by Good Samaritan Ministries (GSM), a nonprofit organization that provides educational opportunities for kids in developing countries. The Sisters Act program will benefit the Uganda GSM Masaka School and Orphanage, which is located in a remote location of southern Uganda... Full story
Over 100 students impressed their teachers and the community with displays of scientific knowledge, creativity and enthusiasm at the third annual Sisters Science Fair on Saturday. The Sisters High School commons transformed into a giant science laboratory and was energized with excitement from students demonstrating their experiments. One of the multiple points of combustion going off during the science fair emanated from exploding balloons, demonstrated as an element of... Full story
You've been talking about getting a dog for months. Your neighbor stops by to tell you that she has a big litter of 10-week-old puppies that need homes, just in case you're interested in one. Since it's going to be your first dog, you've decided on a puppy. There's really nothing quite as endearing as a puppy. They're cute, cuddly and full of affection and the gaze from a pup's big round eyes can melt anyone's heart. Bringing a new puppy into your home will also be a major... Full story
The biggest snowstorm in years just transformed your yard into a winter wonderland, and your furry friend can't wait to get out there and play in the white stuff. Most dogs can't resist rolling in fresh snow or running through tunnels you're shoveling to get to the street. Refereeing a good snow ball fight is fun for Fido, too. Just like a kid, your pooch might not know when it's time to come in from the cold, so it's up to you as a good pet parent to bring him in before... Full story
You've just sat down to dinner when you hear a sound that all cat parents' dread: Claws tearing into fabric. You grab the spray bottle and rush into the next room. Tiger sees you and takes off to hide under the bed. Cats make great pets. They love to play and keep you laughing with their antics. They enjoy cuddling with you on the couch or bed and they purr for no other reason than being near you. But your sofa and your nerves are tattered. You've been scolding Tiger when you... Full story
The dachshund that you share your one-bedroom apartment with is overweight. Could it be because you work part-time and Fido hangs out on the couch most of the day without exercise? Dogs, like humans, need daily exercise to live a healthy life and stay at an ideal weight. Not only will exercise keep your dog fit, it will also burn a lot of their excess energy. A dog that is tired out from exercising may rest more calmly at home and have less anxiety when left alone. Exercise... Full story
It's a sunny spring day and you and your leashed mini-poodle are taking a leisurely stroll in the park. You're smiling and his tail is wagging. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a Great Dane bounds by to say hello, he's unleashed and his human is running over to catch him. Meanwhile your pooch is shaking from fright. The relaxing walk that you two were taking is over. Does Deschutes County have a leash law? No. However, it does have an "at large" ordinance. According to Deschutes... Full story
The sun is shining and you're out walking Fido. You know that as he's grown older he is more temperamental toward energized kids. A group of teenagers walking by notice how beautiful your pooch is and run over to pet him. Before you can stop them he growls and tries to bite. Luckily nobody gets hurt. We may love man's best friend, but not all dogs are "people" dogs. There's a new way to warn people if your four-legged family member is feeling grumpy or aggressive. It's called... Full story
Can cats and dogs get along? While there have been many movies that had fun with the idea that the animals are secretly fighting an all-out war, many real-life cats and dogs live in harmony together in the same household. It is important to understand how cats' and dogs' personalities vary. One of the biggest differences between canines and felines lies in their social patterns and interactions. Cats tend to be solitary animals, preferring to go where they want when they... Full story
How many times have you gone on a pleasant walk by yourself or with your pooch only to hear rowdy barking through a fence or from across the street and have it continue until you're out of earshot? Barking is natural; it's how dogs communicate with each other and with you. Sometimes we want our dogs to bark in order to warn us of potential danger or that someone is on the property. However, continuous barking is annoying, for you and your neighbors. Nuisance barking is a habit... Full story
This holiday season, you've been invited to your granddaughter's home two states away. You haven't seen her in three years, so you decide to take the family on the road for a visit. You'd love to take your four-legged family member too, except for one major problem: Fido gets motion sickness and vomits in the car on trips more than 10 minutes away. Even though many people prefer to take their pets along, it's not always possible for numerous reasons. What options do you have... Full story
You've been invited to spend the holidays at your brother's house in San Diego, California, and decided to hit the road for the 15-hour drive, bringing along the whole family. But what about your four-legged kid? Should he go along too? Although it's tempting to bring Fido with you, you have to consider that some animals aren't suited to travel because of temperament, illness, or physical impairment. You've decided that it wouldn't be a family car trip without Fido, but if... Full story
More than gifts, the holidays are about traditions. Saturday evening at the Sisters High School auditorium, Sisters Dance Academy brought holiday traditions to life on stage for the third Winter Dance Recital - titled "Traditions." Dancers ages 3 to 18 performed ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and contemporary dance to a full house. "Traditions help bring us together to celebrate what is most meaningful in our lives," said Andrew Ellis at the start of the recital. Ellis... Full story
It's that time of year again, and along with the excitement and merriment of the holidays come possible dangers to your pet. Before you deck the halls with boughs of holly, think twice if you have any pets in the household. Holly is poisonous to cats and dogs. Bright ornamental plants are a great way to dress up the house during the holidays but keep holly, mistletoe, poinsettia, and any forms of lily out of your pet's reach. There's nothing like a real Christmas tree during... Full story
Pets share our homes, keep us company, and can reduce feelings of stress. They offer us companionship, go along with us on walks while exercising, and greet us at the end of each workday. They give us unconditional love. So it's understandable that sooner or later you might desire to add an adopted furry friend to your home. But remember that adopting a pet is a serious commitment. What kind of pet will be the best fit for your household? Consider how much time you'd need to... Full story
Jeff Fairfield may have gone the roundabout route to discover his true passion for dry stone masonry, but it was worth the trip. "I majored in engineering in college and ended up with a degree in physiology," recalled Fairfield. "During college I had a job landscaping for an architect. Then in 2004, I began working for my brother Brian doing dry stone walling. It's not just masonry work; there is so much technique and craftsmanship to building with stone. I found the determina... Full story
Our pets bring so much love, support, and companionship into our lives. Many people have experienced the joy that comes with having a pet, yet sadly there also comes a time when they have to face the heartbreak of losing that cherished friend. A pet is a constant companion, and facing its loss can be devastating. Given the intense bond most of us share with our animals, it's natural to feel overwhelmed by feelings of grief when a pet dies. For many people a pet is not "just a... Full story
The early morning rain misted down Hood Avenue as folks flocked to the 38th annual Sisters Harvest Faire with umbrellas in hand on Saturday. Cold, wet weather couldn't keep local folks and visitors away as they searched for that one unique gift while strolling through an eclectic array of hand-crafted items. This year featured 168 artisans and craftsmen from all over the Pacific Northwest. Many first-time vendors lined the streets with their original handmade goods.... Full story